EV drivers benefit as InstaVolt and McDonalds partnership celebrates 250-site milestone

We are proud to announce a major milestone in our ongoing partnership with McDonald’s: the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers at 250 McDonald’s sites across the UK and Ireland.

Since the first charger as part of the partnership was installed at a McDonald’s restaurant in Port Talbot in December 2020, the collaboration has gone from strength to strength. With more than 500 ultra-rapid chargers now live across 250 locations, the partnership is helping to power the transition to cleaner transport at scale.

Together, InstaVolt and McDonald’s have enabled EV drivers to cover over 120 million miles without emitting any tailpipe emissions. That’s the equivalent of driving around the Earth nearly 5,000 times, all while charging up in familiar, accessible locations drivers already know and trust.

“Working with McDonald’s has been a cornerstone of our strategy to deliver reliable and convenient nationwide EV infrastructure,” said Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt.

“Their well-located restaurants give us the perfect platform to reach communities across the UK and Ireland. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together so far and look forward to growing our partnership further.”

Mike Spencer, VP Development at McDonald’s UK & Ireland said, “McDonald’s is committed to delivering a great customer experience and our ongoing partnership with InstaVolt means we can do just that. Providing accessible charging points enables customers with electric vehicles to visit one of our restaurants for a coffee or a meal and get an average of an 80% charge in 20 minutes. This is a brilliant milestone to have reached, and as we look to open 200 new restaurants over the next four years, continuing to make charging points available, where possible, will remain a priority.”

The scale and accessibility of the McDonald’s estate has played a vital role in helping InstaVolt expand its award-winning public charging network into areas often underserved by traditional infrastructure, from major cities to smaller towns and rural routes.

The partnership has already served more than 1.5 million drivers, helping them charge quickly and conveniently while reducing carbon emissions.

In environmental terms, the carbon savings from these 120 million miles are equivalent to planting 750,000 trees and letting them grow for ten years, a clear demonstration of how everyday journeys can contribute to meaningful climate action.

This partnership builds on McDonald’s heritage when it comes to sustainability. The electricity the business purchases for its UK and Irish restaurants is already 100% renewable from wind and solar sources, and the company transforms its used cooking oil to help power its delivery lorries, topped up with biodiesel from other sustainable sources, where necessary.